Language Variation in Society
MODULE CODE
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Module Aims
Aim 1
Introduce key themes from socially-minded areas of linguistics and help students develop the basic skills and knowledge required to tackle Level 5 linguistics modules successfully
Aim 2
Make students aware of the existence of linguistic variation in society and help them identify the social and contextual factors that contribute to diversity in language use
Aim 3
Introduce student to the idea that language use can reflect, influence, and construct meanings and identities
Aim 4
Encourage students to reflect on their own linguistic practices, memberships to linguistic communities, and language attitudes
Aim 5
Enable students to conduct research in socially-minded areas of linguistics
Module Content
This module covers a range of key themes associated with socially-minded areas of linguistics, including sociolinguistics. Students are introduced to the types and significance of variation in society, and explore regional variation, bilingualism and multilingualism, sign language and the deaf community, diglossia and code-switching, pidgins and creoles, language and gender, and variation due to age, education, occupation, social class and register.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:
Teaching Methods
The module employs a blended learning approach: classroom teaching (interactive lectures and workshop seminars) build on independent study (homework, online learning). Students also learn through doing, through peer observation, and through reflecting on these activities. In common with other English modules, this module is designed to foster an active, participatory, independent approach to learning, to develop critical faculties and to consolidate and develop written and oral communication skills. Students will obtain co-operative skills during classroom discussions, including the ability to engage in critical debate while showing respect for others. They will also develop problem-solving skills, the ability manage time and work to deadlines and will be encouraged to adopt reflective practices.
Assessment Methods
This module is assessed through one Portfolio of tasks, with some individual choice of content.
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Compulsory
Optional
